Teens talk about the latest books for teens. Members of the Bistro Book Clubs include any teen who wants to read and talk about new books.
Additional new reviews for books previously reviewed are indicated after the title.

Bistro Bookclub Review Form

Saturday, August 21, 2010

I loved this book! The author takes the story Little Red Riding Hood and puts a whole new twist on it. It is a short read but I loved it. It intrested me and made me laugh.

Rating: 4 Better than most

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8/18/2010 3:49:59 PM
Viviane, 14
Vivian Vande Velde
Cloaked in Red
Marshal Cavendish
2010
How would you rate this book?
4 Better than most
This is a magically written collection of stories from an amazing author! The story of "Little Red" has never been told with so many different views!

8/18/2010 3:48:41 PM
KW
17
Chelsea M. Campbell
The Rise of Renegade X
2010
Damien must choose to honor his raising by being a supervillian or see that being superhero is better after all?
How would you rate this book?
5 Hard to imagine a better book.

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Andrea F. , 17
The Rise of Renegade X
Chelsea M. Campbell
2010
Yes this should be on the Teens Top Ten List. An interesting twist on the traditional super hero story.
4 Better than most

8/4/2010 2:36:58 PM
Andrea F., 17
April Lindner
Jane
Little, Brown and Company
2010
How would you rate this book?
4 Better than most
When Jane Moore is forced to drop out of college by the death of her parents, she lands a nanny job that many girls would kill for. Working as a nanny for Nico Rathburn’s daughter, and Nico just happens to be one of the world’s most famous rock stars. Of course he’s not quite so famous anymore since the drugs screwed him up but he’s on the brink of a huge comeback since he got clean. Jane is wholly practical and sensible but she can’t help becoming mesmerized by Nico’s magnetic personality. But there’s a mysterious obstacle to their relationship that will quite possibly ruin both of their lives. A modern version of Jane Eyre that is easily readable by both Jane Eyre fans and those who dislike classics. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books and I’m impressed with how well April Lindner adapted it to modern times. 8 stars out of 10.

8/18/2010 3:10:04 PM
Rebecca, 14
Jaclyn Moriarty
The Ghosts of Ashbury High
Arthur A. Levine Books
2010
How would you rate this book?
4 Better than most
This book was incredibly unique and intriguing. It didn't follow the same "guidelines" that most books follow. In the beginning most books usually have one main character talking or whatever, but in this book, each character talked and experienced things. It was also told through the HSC exam on the topic of gothic fiction which was incredibly unique. I liked how in the beginning you think you have it all figured out but at the end everything you thought you new were contradicted.

8/4/2010 2:08:41 PM
Andrea F.
17
Robin McKinley
Pegasus
G. P. Putnam's Sons
2010
How would you rate this book?
4 Better than most
Despite being allied to the pegasi for over a thousand years, the people of Balsinland know very little about them. They know that they are incredibly graceful, intelligent, beautiful, and almost impossible to communicate with. The only ones who can really talk to each other are the human magicians and the pegasus shamans. So when Sylvi, princess of Balsinland, is ritually bonded to the pegasus king’s son Ebon she is astonished to discover she can telepathically speak with him. The idea that humans and pegasi can truly speak to each other is a story that has not even been imagined by the bards. And as a consequence Sylvi and Ebon gain powerful enemies by their “unnatural” bond. As Sylvi learns more, becoming the first human to actually understand the pegasi, her country is attacked by rocs, taralains, and all sorts of nasty beasties. The one downside I can think of in this book is that it was very difficult to get into. I only persevered because I like Robin McKinley, otherwise I probably would’ve stopped after the first 20 pages. But once you got past the opening history the story was fascinating. The pegasi are totally alien to humans despite being in contact for a thousand years. All of their art, history, food, and thoughts are so different, so interesting. I’m looking forward to the sequel so I can learn more about this new world of Balsinland.

8/3/2010 11:37:52 AM
Spencer, 12
Suzanne Selfors
Smells Like Dog
Little, Brown
2010
How would you rate this book?
5 Hard to imagine a better book
I love how it starts out taking you through random events and then ties the plot together in amazing and well-thought-out climax. The book was simply amazing. I would love to have a copy of this book.

8/2/2010 2:15:11 PM
Tori, 14
Ellen Potter
The Kneebone Boy
2010
How would you rate this book?
5 Hard to imagine a better book
Siblings Otto, Lucia and Max are sent to a cousins's house while their dad goes to work, but when their cousin isn't even there, these siblings must embark on a grand journey to discover things about their strange dad, their missing mom, and their mysterious great-aunt Haddie.This book was very funny, but serious at the same time. It also had a lot of lovable characters, memorable places, and terrible twists in it. I would like to have this book at the end of the year.

7/28/2010 3:34:06 PM
Vickie
12
Christopher Pike
The Secret of Ka
2010
How would you rate this book?
4 Better than most
i was a bit surprised that this is not exactly your ordinary Arabic fairytale, Christopher Pike made some unpleasant additions to the genies already unbenign personality wile also adding an evil third race into the equation of humans and genies. All in all, nice enjoyable book.

Anqi, 12 Hex Hall
Rachel Hawkins
Disney Hyperion 2010Hex Hall is about a protagonist named Sophie Mercer, who, not until three years ago, knew she was a witch. Now, she’s sixteen, and after a bad love spell gone horribly wrong, her father has decided she would be better off if she was sent to Hecate Hall, better known as Hex Hall, a sort of reform school for all Prodigium, which are fairies, witches and warlocks, and also shape shifters. At Hex Hall, Sophie will meet so many surprising people- like a vampire who turns out to be her best friend, and which everybody else practically hates. There’s a guy named Archer, who turns out to be an arrogant, but okay guy. And then there’s Elonie, (rhymes with Melody,) who seems to hate Sophie’s guts. And now Sophie’s learning that, even though she was shunned when she tried to fit in with humans, that maybe she doesn’t even belong in a group of misfits. As Sophie grows in her personality and charm through Hex Hall, follow her as she travels through this poignant and thrilling journey as Sophie discovers what she actually is, and what matters at heart. When I first started this book, I didn’t think it was very interesting. Admittedly, the beginning was very slow, but Sophie seemed a very funny character, which was satisfying to me. Gradually, I got over the beginning, and that was where the plot started heating up and Sophie’s character and personality started developing a lot. There were a lot of little twists and turns in the plot, and there were lots of little aspects to Sophie’s personality that I found appealing and eager to read about. For one thing, Sophie seemed like a real teenager, with all her moodiness and a strong tumbling of all her feelings all the time. The romance was equally welcomed between Sophie and a tall, dark teen named Archer, not only adding to how interesting this book was, but also adding strongly to the plot. All in all, I thought this was an amazing book, and although it could’ve had a better writing style, I thought it was an amazing story to read. I will be eagerly waiting for Demonglass! ☺
Rating: 4 Better than most

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Vickie, 12
Rachel Hawkins
Hex Hall
2010
How would you rate this book?
4 Better than most
I enjoyed almost every moment of the book. Each chapter had been extremely well thought out. Rachel Hawkins wrapped it up really well, and just had everything set at a perfect pace.

Overall, it was a pretty predictable plot. So, to summarize the plot of this book, we take the plot of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets + The House of Night setting Sophia has known for three years, but it's actually four years she's known she's a witch. She causes a love spell to go horribly wrong and ends up in a reformatory school for people like her who are called Prodigium (descendants of angels, and they are witches, faeries, and shape shifters). Then a series of attacks happen, and her room-mate, a vampire, is suspected. I thought this book was pretty typical for its genre, but I liked the characters, and the way the school was portrayed felt more realistic, but it somewhat reminded me of a soap-opera.

7/28/2010
Andrea F., 17
Rating: 4 Better than most
Since the great collapse of 2031 when the oil ran out, people have withdrawn to small, self sufficient communities where people grow their own food, ride bicycles, and use solar panels to access the internet. It’s now 2041 and sixteen year old Molly has never grown up knowing anything different then her small farming island in Canada. But that’s about to change. When the island’s doctor dies and Molly’s mother has a serious medical condition, Molly has to bring back her grandfather, a doctor, from the United States. Molly’s trip is anything but smooth. She has to cross the border illegally, avoid gangs, and try to scrape up the money to get back home before her mother gets sicker. A surprisingly hopeful book despite being set in a dystopian world, Restoring Harmony is filled with music, the importance of family, and lots of veggies. Because of how well the story is written and because I really like Molly’s voice I have to give this book a 7 1⁄2 out of 10.